U.S. patent application number 11/966407 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for medication and medical supply storage package and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to McKesson Automation Inc.. Invention is credited to William A. Bieganski.
Application Number | 20090169138 11/966407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40798554 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090169138 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bieganski; William A. |
July 2, 2009 |
MEDICATION AND MEDICAL SUPPLY STORAGE PACKAGE AND METHOD
Abstract
A medication and medical supply storage package and packing
method are provided for use with an automated medication and
medical supply dispensing device. In various embodiments, the
medication and medical supply storage package and method are
configured to accommodate oversized medications or medical supplies
by providing a package and packaging method that include first and
second surfaces that are sealed with first and second seals, as
well as an intermediate seal that extends through a limited portion
of the first and second surfaces. As a result of the limited extent
of the intermediate seal, oversized medication and medical supplies
may extend into an open area on at least one side of the seal,
allowing existing medication and medical supply dispensing devices
to locate and dispense oversized medications or medical supplies
that would otherwise have to be manually picked.
Inventors: |
Bieganski; William A.;
(Wexford, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA, 101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
McKesson Automation Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40798554 |
Appl. No.: |
11/966407 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/210 ;
53/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2575/565 20130101;
B65D 75/566 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/210 ;
53/469 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. A medication and medical supply storage package for use with an
automated medication and medical supply dispensing device having a
plurality of hanging rods disposed in an array, said package
comprising: first and second opposing surfaces, said surfaces being
substantially planar and each defining a pair of sides, a top end,
a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate said top end and
between said sides, wherein said apertures are substantially
aligned and are configured to support said package on said rods; a
top seal joining said first and second surfaces proximate said top
ends, said top seal located above said apertures and extending
substantially from one side of said first and second surfaces to
the other side; a bottom seal joining said first and second
surfaces proximate said bottom ends, said bottom seal extending
substantially from one side of said first and second surfaces to
the other side; and an intermediate seal joining said first and
second surfaces below said apertures and extending through a
limited portion of said surfaces between said sides.
2. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 1,
wherein the intermediate seal is approximately centered between the
sides thus defining a pair of open areas on either side of the
intermediate seal and that extend approximately to the top
seal.
3. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 1,
wherein the apertures of the first and second surfaces are
approximately centered between the sides.
4. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 1,
wherein the first and second surfaces are comprised of a single
extruded flexible film.
5. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 1,
wherein the first and second surfaces comprise separate portions of
flexible film.
6. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 1,
wherein the first and second surfaces comprise linear low density
polyethylene.
7. The medication and medical supply storage package of claim 6,
wherein the first and second surfaces each have an approximate
thickness of 0.003 inches.
8. A method of packaging an oversized medication or medical supply
for use with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing
device having a plurality of hanging rods disposed in an array,
said method comprising: providing a medication and medical supply
storage package comprising first and second opposing surfaces, the
surfaces being substantially planar and each defining a pair of
sides, a top end, a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate
the top end and between the sides, wherein the apertures are
substantially aligned and are configured to support the package on
the rods; sealing the first and second surfaces together with a
first seal that extends substantially from one side of the first
and second surfaces to the other side; sealing the first and second
surfaces together with an intermediate seal that extends through a
limited portion of the surfaces approximately centered between the
sides such that a pair of open areas are created on either side of
the intermediate seal; inserting the oversized medication or
medical supply into the package such that a portion of the
oversized medical supply storage package extends into at least one
of the open areas; and sealing the first and second surfaces
together with a second seal that extends substantially from one
side of the first and second surfaces to the other side.
9. The method of packaging an oversized medication or medical
supply of claim 8, wherein sealing the first and second surfaces
with a first seal comprises sealing the first and second surfaces
with a top seal that joins the first and second surfaces proximate
the top ends, and wherein the top seal is located above the
apertures.
10. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 9, wherein sealing the first and second surfaces together
with a second seal comprises sealing the first and second surfaces
with a bottom seal that joins the first and second surfaces
proximate the bottom ends.
11. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 8, wherein the apertures of the first and second surfaces
are approximately centered between the sides.
12. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 8, wherein the first and second surfaces are comprised of
a single extruded flexible film.
13. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 8, wherein the first and second surfaces comprise separate
portions of flexible film.
14. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 8, wherein the first and second surfaces comprise linear
low density polyethylene.
15. The method of packing an oversized medication or medical supply
of claim 14, wherein the first and second surfaces each have an
approximate thickness of 0.003 inches.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate
generally to storing medications and medical supplies and, in
particular, to a medication and medical supply storage package and
method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a typical hospital, nursing home, or other similar
institution, doctors visit their patients on a routine basis and
prescribe various medications for each patient. In turn, each
patient is likely assigned a certain medication treatment plan that
requires that he or she take one or more doses of various
medications daily. Some medications may be administered only at
certain times of the day (e.g., after meals) and/or at intervals of
one or more hours each day. In addition, patients may request
certain medications on an elective basis, such as head or body
aches. These requests are typically included with the doctor's
medication request or prescription that he or she sends to a
pharmacy of the hospital for filling.
[0003] Medication requests or prescriptions received by the
pharmacy are usually checked by a registered pharmacist and then
entered into the pharmacy information system. These requests
reflect not only orders that are added to a particular patient's
treatment plan, but also changes in a patient's existing treatment
plan. The pharmacy information system combines this information
with the patient's existing medication schedule and develops a
patient medication profile. Using the patient medication profile, a
fill list can be created that lists all medications and/or medical
supplies that must be distributed to all patients for a given time
period (e.g., a day) to satisfy respective treatment plans.
[0004] Systems have been developed that automate the process of
retrieving unit dose medications and medical supplies and
distributing them to patients according to their respective
medication profiles. One example of such a system is the
ROBOT-Rx.RTM. system, offered by McKesson Automation Inc. and
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,468,110, 5,593,267 and 5,880,443, and
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0265729, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0005] The ROBOT-Rx.RTM. system, like other similar systems, is a
stationary robotic system that automates the drug storing,
dispensing, returning, restocking and crediting process by using
barcode technology. In particular, medications and medical supplies
are packaged, for example in a clear plastic bag, so that each
package contains a barcode corresponding to the package contents.
The barcode may include the name of the medication, quantity,
weight, instructions for use and/or expiration date.
[0006] The packaged medications and medical supplies are then
stored in a storage area, such as a storage rack having a frame and
a plurality of rod supports on which each package can be hung in a
manner that provides each with an X, Y coordinate. Using the X, Y
coordinates, packages can then be selected by an automated picking
means, such as a robotic picking arm capable of moving at least in
three, mutually orthogonal directions designated X, Y and Z for
distribution to individual patients. FIG. 1 shows a portion of a
typical array of storage packages 10 (including a small version of
a storage package and a large version of a storage package) that
store medications 12 or medical supplies supported by an array of
rod supports 14 as may be found in an automated medication and
medical supply dispensing device, such as the ROBOT-Rx.RTM.
system.
[0007] In one instance, a pharmacist or technician may manually
enter the identification of a specific medication he or she would
like the automated system to retrieve, for example, as a patient's
first dose, in an emergency situation. The automated system, and,
in particular, a computer associated with the automated system,
would then locate the desired medication (i.e., the X, Y and Z
coordinates of the medication) and instruct the picking means to
retrieve the medication at that location. In another instance, the
fill list created based on each patient's medication profile may be
communicated to the computer associated with the automated system,
providing the automated system with a current list of all patients
and their individual medication needs. The computer also maintains
a database of all medications stored in the storage area along with
their corresponding X, Y and Z coordinates.
[0008] The computer can then guide the picking means to select the
desired unit dose medications or medical supplies and deposit them
into patient-specific boxes or containers. In particular, the
picking means, which also includes a barcode reader, moves to the
designated location of a particular medication, as instructed by
the computer, scans the barcode displayed on the package containing
the medication or medical supply to determine the identification of
the medication contained in the package, and provides the identity
to the computer. After the computer confirms that the correct
medication or medical supply is contained in the package, the
picking arm removes the package from the storage area using a
vacuum generator to produce suction at several areas at an end of
the picking arm to pull the package off the rod, or other holding
means, and hold the package until it can be deposited into a
patient-specific container. FIG. 2 shows an example of a robotic
picking arm 15 having a plurality of vacuum areas 17 configured to
pick and pull a package 10 off of a rod support 14 as may be found
in an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device,
such as a the ROBOT-Rx.RTM. system.
[0009] As noted above, prior to being stored in an automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device, medications and
medical supplies are typically inserted into standard storage
packages, which are then sealed. Because of the desire to maximize
the efficiency of typical automated medication and medical supply
dispensing devices, existing storage packages are limited in size
and shape, typically resulting in compact packages with little if
any differences in package sizes. FIG. 3 shows two typical
standardized storage packages 10 for use with an automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device. Specifically, a
small version of a storage package is depicted on the left and a
large version of the storage package is depicted the right.
[0010] Unfortunately, some medications and medical supplies are
oversized and do not fit into the standardized packages. For
example, FIG. 4 shows an example of an oversized medical supply,
such as a pediatric syringe 20, which is too large to fit into
either the standardized small or large storage packages 10. Thus,
because of their size, these medications and medical supplies must
be packaged in non-standardized packages that cannot be used with
the automated medication and medical supply dispensing devices.
Often, the non-standardized packages are placed near the automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device and must be
manually picked. These manual operations are cumbersome,
inefficient, and disrupt the automation of the dispensing device.
Additionally, they add the potential for human error, which the
automated medication and medical supply dispensing device is
designed to eliminate.
[0011] One solution is to redesign the automated medication and
medical supply dispensing devices to accommodate a larger variety
of package sizes. However, the cost to redesign such systems is
large and this solution does not address the countless systems
already in operation. Another solution is to modify existing
systems to accommodate the larger package sizes, however again this
does not provide an efficient solution as such modifications would
be quite costly, and, perhaps more importantly, would require
removing the systems from service for an undetermined amount of
time.
[0012] As a result, there is a need for a medication and medical
supply storage package and method for accommodating oversized
medications and medial supplies. The medication and medical supply
storage package and method should allow oversized medication and
medical supplies to be usable with existing automated medication
and medical supply dispensing devices such that the need for manual
picking is reduced or eliminated. Additionally, the medication and
medical supply storage package and method should be usable without
costly redesigns or modifications to existing automated medication
and medical supply dispensing devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In general, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
provide an improvement over the known prior art by, among other
things, providing a medication and medical supply storage package
and method for use with automated medication and medical supply
dispensing devices.
[0014] In particular, in one exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a medication and medical supply storage package is
provided that may comprise first and second opposing surfaces, the
surfaces being substantially planar and each defining a pair of
sides, a top end, a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate
the top end and between the sides, wherein the apertures are
substantially aligned and are configured to support the package on
support rods of the automated medication and medical supply
dispensing device. A top seal joins the first and second surfaces
proximate the top ends, the top seal being located above the
apertures and extending substantially from one side of the first
and second surfaces to the other side. A bottom seal joins the
first and second surfaces proximate the bottom ends, the bottom
seal extending substantially from one side of the first and second
surfaces to the other side. And an intermediate seal joins the
first and second surfaces below the apertures and extends through a
limited portion of the surfaces between the sides.
[0015] In one aspect, the intermediate seal of the medication and
medical supply storage package may be approximately centered
between the sides thus defining a pair of open areas on either side
of the intermediate seal that extend approximately to the top seal.
In another aspect, the apertures of the first and second surfaces
may be approximately centered between the sides. In another aspect,
the first and second surfaces may be comprised of a single extruded
flexible film. In another aspect, the first and second surfaces may
comprise separate portions of flexible film. In another aspect, the
first and second surfaces may comprise linear low density
polyethylene. In still another aspect, the first and second
surfaces each may have an approximate thickness of 0.003
inches.
[0016] A method of packaging an oversized medication or medical
supply for use with an automated medication and medical supply
dispensing device is also provided. In one exemplary embodiment,
the method may comprise providing a medication and medical supply
storage package comprising first and second opposing surfaces, the
surfaces being substantially planar and each defining a pair of
sides, a top end, a bottom end, and an aperture located proximate
the top end and between the sides, wherein the apertures are
substantially aligned and are configured to support the package on
the rods, and sealing the first and second surfaces together with a
first seal that extends substantially from one side of the first
and second surfaces to the other side, sealing the first and second
surfaces together with an intermediate seal that extends through a
limited portion of the surfaces approximately centered between the
sides such that a pair of open areas are created on either side of
the intermediate seal, inserting the oversized medication or
medical supply into the package such that a portion of the
oversized medical supply storage package extends into at least one
of the open areas, and sealing the first and second surfaces
together with a second seal that extends substantially from one
side of the first and second surfaces to the other side.
[0017] In one aspect, sealing the first and second surfaces with a
first seal may comprise sealing the first and second surfaces with
a top seal that joins the first and second surfaces proximate the
top ends, wherein the top seal is located above the apertures. In
another aspect, sealing the first and second surfaces together with
a second seal may comprise sealing the first and second surfaces
with a bottom seal that joins the first and second surfaces
proximate the bottom ends. In another aspect, the apertures of the
first and second surfaces may be approximately centered between the
sides. In another aspect, the first and second surfaces may be
comprised of a single extruded flexible film. In another aspect,
the first and second surfaces may comprise separate portions of
flexible film. In another aspect, the first and second surfaces may
comprise linear low density polyethylene. In still another aspect,
the first and second surfaces each have an approximate thickness of
0.003 inches.
[0018] As a result, the present invention provides an improved
medication and medical supply storage package and method for use
with an automated medication and medical supply dispensing device.
In various embodiments, the medication and medical supply storage
package and method are configured to accommodate oversized
medications or medical supplies by providing a package that
includes first and second surfaces that are sealed with first and
second seals, as well as an intermediate seal that extends through
a limited portion of the first and second surfaces. As a result,
oversized medication and medical supplies may extend into an open
area on at least one side of the seal, allowing existing medication
and medical supply dispensing devices to locate and dispense
oversized medications or medical supplies that would otherwise have
to be manually picked.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0019] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a typical array of storage
packages that store medications and medical supplies hanging on an
array of rod supports as may be found in an automated medication
and medical supply dispensing device;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a robotic picking arm
having a plurality of vacuum areas configured to pick and pull a
package off of a rod support as may be found in an automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates two typical standardized medication and
medical supply storage packages for use with an automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an oversized medical supply
that is too large to fit into a standardized medication and medical
supply storage package;
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a medication and medical supply storage
package in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a medication and medical supply storage
package containing an oversized medical supply in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a medication and medical supply storage
package in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
shown relative to a robotic picking arm having a plurality of
vacuum areas configured to pick and pull the package off of a rod
support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0028] As noted above, FIGS. 1-4 show a typical array of storage
packages 10 that store medications 12 or medical supplies supported
by an array of rod supports 14 as may be found in an automated
medication and medical supply dispensing device, such as the
ROBOT-Rx.RTM. system. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, each of these
medication and medical supply packages 10 includes three seals,
comprising a pair of top seals 22, 24 and a bottom seal 26. As
shown in the figures, the top seals 22, 24 are located on either
side of an aperture 28. Additionally, the top seals 22, 24 and the
bottom seal 26 extend the entire width of the package 10. In order
to store a medication 12 or medical supply inside of the package
10, only the top seals 22, 24 are initially sealed. Once the
medication 12 or medical supply is placed into the package 10, the
bottom seal 26 is created. However, as shown in FIG. 4, many
medications or medical supplies are oversized and do not fit inside
the existing standardized medication and medication supply storage
packages.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a medication and medical supply storage package
100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
medication and medical supply storage package 100 generally
includes first and second opposing surfaces 102, 104 that are
sealed together to create a main cavity 106. In the depicted
embodiment, each of the opposing surfaces has generally the same
size and is generally rectangular in shape, with each defining a
top end 108, 110, a bottom end 112, 114, a first side 116, 118, and
a second side 120, 122. In various embodiments, the opposing
surfaces 102, 104 may be constructed of a variety of materials,
including, but not limited to, flexible films. However, in the
depicted embodiment the opposing surfaces 102, 104 are constructed
of linear low density polyethylene, with each surface having a
thickness of approximately 0.003 inches. In various other
embodiments the thickness of the opposing surfaces may vary.
[0030] The opposing surfaces also includes apertures 124, 126
located proximate the top ends, 108, 110 and approximately centered
between the first sides 116, 118 and the second sides 120, 122. The
apertures 124, 126 are designed to support the storage package 100
on the rod supports of an automated medication and medical supply
dispensing device. As such, the apertures 124, 126 are generally
aligned with each other and are configured to fit easily over the
dimensions of a typical rod support. In the depicted embodiment the
apertures 126, 128 are generally circular in shape, however in
other embodiments they may have many different shapes and/or sizes
configured to fit over the rod supports of an automated medication
and medical supply dispensing device.
[0031] A top seal 128 joins the first and second surfaces 102, 104
above the apertures 124, 126 and proximate the top ends 108, 110.
In the depicted embodiment, the top seal 128 extends across the
width of the storage package 100 extending approximately from the
first sides 116, 118 to the second sides 120, 122. Likewise, a
bottom seal 130 joins the first and second surfaces 102, 104
proximate the bottom ends 112, 114. The bottom seal 130 also
extends across the width of the storage package 100 approximately
from the first sides 116, 118 to the second sides 120, 122.
[0032] An intermediate seal 132 is located below the apertures 124,
126. The intermediate seal extends only through a limited portion
of the opposing surfaces 102, 104. In the depicted embodiment, the
intermediate seal 132 is approximately centered between the first
sides 116, 118 and the second sides 118, 120. As a result of the
limited extent of the intermediate seal 132, two open areas 134,
136 are created on either side of the intermediate seal 132,
effectively extending the usable space between the opposing
surfaces 102, 104 on either side of the intermediate seal 132,
unlike with existing medication and medical supply storage package
designs (such as those shown, for example, in FIG. 5). As a result,
oversized medications and medical supplies that would not
ordinarily fit into prior art medication and medical supply storage
packages, may take advantage of the additional usable storage space
provided by open areas 134, 136. Referring to FIG. 6, for example,
a pediatric syringe 20, which is too large to fit into the existing
standardized storage packages, fits easily into the medication and
medial supply storage package 100 of the depicted embodiment of the
present invention.
[0033] In order to package an oversized medication or medical
supply according to one embodiment of the present invention, a
medication and medical supply storage package 100 is provided
having the top seal 128 and intermediate seal 132 already in place.
The oversized medication or medical supply is then inserted into
the cavity 106, and if need be, into one or both of the open areas
134, 136. The bottom seal 130 is then added to the supply package
100. It should be noted that in other embodiments, one or any
combination of the seals may be added at any time and need not be
constructed in the order described by the exemplary embodiment.
[0034] By providing an intermediate seal that extends over a
limited portion of the first and second opposing surfaces 102, 104,
the medication and medical supply storage package 100 of the
depicted embodiment accommodates medications and medical supplies
having a larger variety of sizes and shapes, without substantially
changing the overall dimensions of the storage package 100. As a
result, the storage package 100 may be used in existing automated
medication and medical supply dispensing devices without any
significant modifications to the design or physical layout of the
dispensing devices.
[0035] Additionally, by including the intermediate seal 132, the
storage package 100 can be located and picked by a robotic picking
arm 15 of an automated medication and medical supply dispensing
device in the same manner as a standard supply package. As shown in
FIG. 7, the top seal 128 and the intermediate seal 132 of the
supply package 100 seal the package 100 together proximate the area
where the vacuum areas 17 contact the supply package 100 when
picking the supply package 100 off of the rod supports 14. As such,
the supply package 100 will easily slide along the rod supports 14,
as would a standard supply package.
[0036] The present invention thus provides an improved medication
and medical supply storage package and method configured to
accommodate oversized medications or medical supplies by providing
a package that includes additional usable storage space, without
requiring costly redesigns or modifications to existing automated
medication and medical supply dispensing devices or substantial
changes to the dimensions of the supply package.
* * * * *